Rudder propeller for ships and amphibian vehicles

ABSTRACT

Outboard-inboard steering propeller construction. There is provided a non-rotatable upper housing attachable to the vessel and a rotatable lower housing supported by and from said upper housing. A propeller is rotatably supported in the lower housing and means for effecting rotation thereof extend through both housings and are drivingly connected to the propeller. A steering gear is rotatably supported within the upper housing but axially nonmovable with respect thereto. A steering shaft is splined to said gear and fixedly connected to the lower housing for effecting pivotal movement thereof. The steering shaft is preferably bifurcated to extend on both sides of the propeller drive shaft and a passageway is provided through the steering shaft and a passageway is provided through the steering shaft and at least one arm of the bifurcated portion to permit venting of air which could otherwise be trapped in the lower end of the pivotal housing.

United States Patent Eichinger RUDDER PROPELLER FOR SHIPS AND AMPHIBIAN VEHICLES Hans Eichinger, Munich, Germany Schottel-Werft Josef Becker KG, Spay/Rhein, Germany Filed: Oct. 21,' 1971 Appl. No.: 191,523

inventor:

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 31, 1970 Germany P 20 53 633.8

US. Cl. 115/35 Int. Cl B63h 25/42 Field of Search 115/35, 41 R, 41 HT,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Carl A. Rutledge Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [5 7] ABSTRACT Outboard-inboard steering propeller construction. There is provided a non-rotatable upper housing attachable to the vessel and a rotatable lower housing supported by and from said upper housing. A propeller is rotatably supported in the lower housing and means for effecting rotation thereof extend through both housings and are drivingly connected to the propeller. A steering gle'ar is rotatably supported within the upper housing but axially nonmovable with respect thereto. A steering shaft is splined to said gear and fixedly connected to the lower housing for effecting pivotal movement thereof. The steering shaft is preferably bifurcated to extend on both sides of the propeller drive shaft and a passageway is provided through the steering shaft and a passageway is provided through the steering shaft and at least one arm of the bifurcated portion to permit venting of air which could otherwise be trapped in the lower end of the pivotal housing.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENIED AUG I 44915 SHEU 2 OF 2 RUDDER PROPELLER FOR SHIPS AND AMPHIBIAN VEHICLES The invention relates to a steering propeller for ships and amphibian vehicles, which for the purpose of controlling the vehicle is in its operating position pivotable about a substantially vertical axis by means of a control shaft which is arranged on said axis and within a hollow drive shaft serving to drive the propeller through suitable gearing.

Steering propellers are usually mounted outboard of the vessel in order to drive it from a motor arranged in the vessel through suitable elements, as shafts, couplings, gears and others, and to control it from a control stand by pivoting the propeller about a vertical axis. If necessary, the steering propeller can be constructed to pivot about a further axis in order to lift same out of the water.

In known steering propellers, the housing carrying the propeller is divided in a part which is usually positioned above the water and is not pivotable and a pivotable part which in its normal position of use is located substantially below the water level, whereby the pivotable housing part is supported on a sleeve or the like provided on the nonpivotable housing part. This pivotable housing part is provided at its upper end with a bevel gear, or the worm gear of a bell-crank drive, through which it can be driven for pivoting from a control stand. The vertical drive shaft for the propeller, which drive shaft extends below the water level, is thus arranged within the vertical drive members for the pivoting of the propeller. The steering drive is in this manner capable of being made quite large.

The purpose of the invention is to construct a highcapacity steering propeller of compact design, whereby, in order to obtain a high degree of safety in operation, the driving and transmission elements, particularly for the control drive, are supported solidly and reliably. The same is also particularly true for the steering drive for the pivoting of the steering propeller.

The use of steering propellers of a very compact design creates the problem of lubricating those gearing parts which extend below the water level or which are positioned entirely below the water level. Steering propellers can also be mounted onto the vessel in such a manner that the propeller is positioned above the steering drive and the control drive, for the propeller whereby the entire steering propeller is positioned below the water. In both cases, whether the propeller is positioned above or below the drive means, the effectiveness of the lubrication depends on a good ventilation of the housing. Therefore a further purpose of the invention is to provide a satisfactory ventilation.

A further purpose of the invention is a good mountability of the steering propeller.

The basic purpose of the invention is attained by mounting the gear which is coupled to the control shaft rotatably and axially nonmovably on the nonpivotable first part of the housing, and by receiving the control shaft in the pivotable second part of the housing carrying the propeller and arranging same in longitudinally moveable relationship to said gear.

To meet the above-described lubricating problem, the steering propeller is advantageously constructed so that the end of the control shaft provided in the second part of the housing is bifurcated and extends on both sides of the propeller carrying shaft. At least one of the arms of said bifurcated structure is provided with a first bore arranged longitudinally thereof. Said first bore leads to a second bore which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the control shaft and said second bore is connected to the external air. The first bore extends through a pipe or the like toward the cover seal of the second part of the housing.

Finally the steering propeller is advantageously constructed for obtaining the desired mountability and the safety of operation (avoiding of clamping devices) by constructing the end of the control shaft provided in the second part of the housing as a bifurcated unit extending on both sides of the propeller shaft and inserting the ends of the arms of the fork between the second part of the housing and the cover. The cover is secured with screws and the screws are arranged close to the arms.

The invention will be explained hereinafter in connection with one exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross'sectional view of a steering propeller according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view rotated at with respect to FIG. 1.

The propeller 1 (FIG. 2) is driven by a motor (not illustrated) which is positioned in the vessel together with a drive shaft (also not illustrated). Said drive shaft drives the coupling 2 (FIG. 1) which carries at one end a coupling shaft 3 and carries at the other end a bevel gear 4. The coupling shaft is supported in a housing 5 which is secured to the vessel in any suitable manner. A sleeve 7 which extends substantially vertically below the water level is screwed to the first housing by means of a flange 6. According to the invention, a driving bevel gear 8 with a first antifriction bearing 9 is supported in the nonpivotable housing (or in the sleeve or its flange) which driving bevel gear is in mesh with the above-mentioned bevel gear 4. The driving bevel gear is positioned on, and fixed against rotation with respect to, a vertical drive shaft 10 and is also axially secured thereon. The driving shaft extends into the lower part of an underwater housing 11 and is there supported with a second antifriction bearing 12. The underwater housing is supported with one or more sleeve bearings 13, 13a on the sleeve. The pivotable underwater housing and the nonpivotable housing are sealed from the outside by seals l4. The nonpivotable housing with the sleeve and the underwater housing form thus a first part and a second part of an entire nousing containing the driving elements which extend underneath the water surface.

A bevel-gear pinion 15 is arranged fixed against rota tion and axial movement with respect to the drive shaft at the free end, namely usually at the lower end, thereof. Drive shaft and bevel-gear pinion are advantageously made of one piece. The bevel-gear pinion meshes with a bevel gear 16 which is secured on, and against rotation or axial movement with respect to, a propeller shaft 17. The propeller shaft is supported substantially horizontally in the underwater housing, namely by antifriction bearings, one of which is illustrated and identified by reference numeral 18. The propeller shaft carries at one end in a conventional manner the already mentioned propeller l. The propeller shaft is according to the invention supported at its free end in said antifriction hearing by means of a sleeve 19 so that the bevel gear without changing the individual parts can also be mounted on this side of the propeller shaft which permits selection of the direction of rotation of the propeller without changing the respective gear parts.

The underwater housing is closed by a cover 20 by means of screws 21 on the end facing away from the nonpivotable housing. The joint 22 between the underwater housing and the cover is approximately in a plane through the axis of the propeller shaft.

The cover 20 of the underwater housing is provided with a recess 23 at the joint, which recess receives according to the invention the lower end of a control shaft 24. For this purpose the control shaft is bifurcated so that the arms 25,26 thereof do not contact the propeller shaft but instead fit into said recesses. The screws 21 are arranged adjacent the recess or the arms. Thus the control shaft is received more or less loosely by the underwater housing which is an importantcharacteristic of the invention. The control shaft is arranged centrally of the driving shaft and extends longitudinally therethrough with clearance through said driving shaft. The control shaft extends thus into the nonpivotable housing (first part of the entire housing).

A worm gear 27 is rotatably supported on a bearing bushing 28 in the housing 5. The hub of the worm gear is, for axial guiding, provided with a ring 29. This ring can for the purpose of mounting be divided or it can be constructed as a snap ring. On each side of said ring there is provided at least one support ring 30,31 which latter are in turn positioned on one side on a cover 32. This arrangement is an important characteristic of the invention. A special feature consists in that the support rings have different axial lengths so that the axial position of the worm gear can be changed by exchanging the rings. The worm gear is provided with an internal splines into which fits splines 33 provided on the upper end of the control shaft. Thus the control shaft is positioned fixed against rotation with respect to, but longitudinally movably in, the worm gear. A worm which is not illustrated engages the worm gear in a conventional manner, said worm being supported in the housing 5. This worm can be driven from a control stand through suitable, known and not illustrated gear elements, which causes the underwater housing 11 and thus the propeller to be pivoted. Thus the vessel can be manouvered.

The entire housing consisting of the housing (first part) and the underwater housing 11 (second part) can be filled to a suitable level with oil through an opening which can be closed by plug 34. The problem then occurs that an air bubble may form at the bottom of the underwater housing, namely at the cover seal 35, which air bubble would prevent a sufficient lubrication of the bearing of the propeller shaft and the bevel gears provided in the underwater housing. To ventilate the underwater housing, according to the invention, a bore 36 is provided in at least one arm 25 of the control shaft and is drilled therethrough the longitudinal direction of the am 25. This bore 36 communicates with a central bore 37 which extends through the entire length of the control shaft. This central bore is closed on the lower end. At the other end the central bore is enlarged so that a bleed valve 38 fits thereinto which bleed valve is screwed into the upper cover. The central bore and the bleed valve are sealed with respect to each other by suitable sealing materials. A conduit which is not illustrated can be connected to the bleed valve, said conduit leads the exhaust air to any place which assures that no dirt or liquid will penetrate into the steering propeller through the venting bore.

If an oil-circuit lubrication is to be provided, then an vvoil pump must be provided in the underwater housing,

which oil pump can be driven by a gear which can be arranged on the propeller shaft opposite the bevel gear 16.

If the steering propeller is attached to the vessel in such a manner that the propeller is positioned above the housing 5, the venting through the bores 36,37 is still important for a satisfactory oil filling.

It is advantageous to extend the bore 36 in the fork of the control shaft through a pipe extension 39 toward the cover seal 35.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a steerable propeller apparatus for ships and amphibian vehicles, said steerable propeller apparatus including a fixed first housing part secured to said vehicle and a second underwater housing part rotatably secured to said first housing part for rotatable movement about a substantially vertical axis, an elongated and hollow drive shaft mounted on said first housing part for rotatable movement about a substantially vertical axis and connected through gear means to a generally horizontally aligned propeller drive shaft mounted in said second housing part, the improvement comprising:

an elongated and hollow steering shaft mounted in coaxial relation to said vertical drive shaft, said steering shaft being secured to and rotatable with said second housing part and defining said vertical axis about which is rotatable said second housing part;

drive means for selectively driving said steering shaft for rotatable movement about said vertical axis;

a pair of laterally extending arms on and adjacent to the lower end of said steering shaft and being secured to said second housing part on laterally opposite sides of said propeller drive shaft; and

means for plugging the lower end of the opening in said hollow steering shaft; and

means for defining a second opening through at least one of said arms and connected in circuit with said opening in said steering shaft, said second opening opening outwardly of said am adjacent the free end thereof whereby said second opening and the opening in said hollow steering shaft defines a vent between the bottom of said second housing part and the atmosphere to prevent the formation of air bubbles adjacent said gear means.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said second housing part comprises an upper part and a lower part secured by fasteners, the free ends of said arms being clamped between said upper and lower parts by said fasteners so that a driven rotation of said steering shaft will effect a rotation of said second housing part.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, including a pipe extension secured to the free end of said one arm and in circuit with said second opening and extends downward therefrom and terminates in a spaced relation to the bottom of said second housing part.

4. In a steerable propeller apparatus for ships and amphibian vehicles, said steerable propeller apparatus including a fixed first housing part secured to said vehicle and a second underwater housing part rotatably secured to said first housing part for rotatable movement about a substantially vertical axis, an elongated and hollow drive shaft mounted on said first housing part for rotatable movement about a substantially vertical axis and connected through gear means to a generally horizontally aligned propeller drive shaft mounted in said second housing part, the improvement comprising: an elongated and hollow steering shaft mounted in coaxial relation to said vertical drive shaft, said steering shaft being secured to and rotatable with I said second housing part and defining said vertical axis about which is rotatable said second housing part; at least one gear rotatably mounted in said first housing part; means for securing said gear to said steering shaft and being adapted to rotatably drive said steering shaft to thereby control the direction of travel of said vehicle, said securing means also being adapted to selectively permit a relative axial movement between said steering shaft and said gear; first bearing means mounted between said vertical drive shaft and said second housing part adjacent the lower end of said vertical drive shaft; second bearing means between said second housing part and said first housing part adjacent the upper end of said second housing part vertically spaced above said first bearing means; and vent means for venting the bottom of said second housing part to the atmosphere to prevent the formation of air bubbles adjacent said gear means, said vent means being defined at least in part by the opening through the central portion of said elongated and hollow steering shaft.

5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein said steering ,shaft has on the lower end thereof a pair of laterally extending arms secured to said second housing part on laterally opposite sides of said propeller drive shaft.

6. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein said arms diverge downwardly away from said lower end of said steering shaft to straddle said propeller drive shaft.

7. The improvement according to claim 5, including means for plugging the lower end of the opening in said hollow steering shaft; and

including means for defining a second opening through at least one of said arms and connected in circuit with said opening in said steering shaft, said second opening opening outwardly of said arm adjacent the free end thereof.

8. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein said second housing part comprises an upper part and a lower part secured by fasteners, the free ends of said arms being clamped between said upper and lower parts by said fasteners so that a driven rotation of said steering shaft will effect a rotation of said second housing part.

9. The improvement according to claim 4, including means defining a passageway in said first and second housing parts separate from said vent means for permitting a filling of at least said second housing part with a lubricant. 

1. In a steerable propeller apparatus for ships and amphibian vehicles, said steerable propeller apparatus including a fixed first housing part secured to said vehicle and a second underwater housing part rotatably secured to said first housing part for rotatable movement about a substantially vertical axis, an elongated and hollow drive shaft mounted on said first housing part for rotatable movement about a substantially vertical axis and connected through gear means to a generally horizontally aligned propeller drive shaft mounted in said second housing part, the improvement comprising: an elongated and hollow steering shaft mounted in coaxial relation to said vertical drive shaft, said steering shaft being secured to and rotatable with said second housing part and defining said vertical axis about which is rotatable said second housing part; drive means for selectively driving said steering shaft for rotatable movement about said vertical axis; a pair of laterally extending arms on and adjacent to the lower end of said steering shaft and being secured to said second housing part on laterally opposite sides of said propeller drive shaft; and means for plugging the lower end of the opening in said hollow steering shaft; and means for defining a second opening through at least one of said arms and connected in circuit with said opening in said steering shaft, said second opening opening outwardly of said arm adjacent the free end thereof whereby said second opening and the opening in said hollow steering shaft defines a vent between the bottom of said second housing part and the atmosphere to prevent the formation of air bubbles adjacent said gear means.
 2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said second housing part comprises an upper part and a lower part secured by fasteners, the free ends of said arms being clamped between said upper and lower parts by said fasteners so that a driven rotation of said steering shaft will effect a rotation of said second housing part.
 3. The improvement according to claim 1, including a pipe extension secured to the free end of said one arm and in circuit with said second opening and extends downward therefrom and terminates in a spaced relation to the bottom of said second housing part.
 4. In a steerable propeller apparatus for ships and amphibian vehicles, said steerable propeller apparatus including a fixed first housing part secured to said vehicle and a second underwater housing part rotatably secured to said first housing part for rotatable movement about a substantially vertical axis, an elongated and hollow drive shaft mounted on said first housing part for rotatable movement about a substantially vertical axis and connected through gear means to a generally horizontally aligned propeller drive shaft mounted in said second housing part, the improvement comprising: an elongated and hollow steering shaft mounted in coaxial relation to said vertical drive shaft, said steering shaft being secured to and rotatable with said second housing part and defining said vertical axis about which is rotatable said second housing part; at least one gear rotatably mounted in said firSt housing part; means for securing said gear to said steering shaft and being adapted to rotatably drive said steering shaft to thereby control the direction of travel of said vehicle, said securing means also being adapted to selectively permit a relative axial movement between said steering shaft and said gear; first bearing means mounted between said vertical drive shaft and said second housing part adjacent the lower end of said vertical drive shaft; second bearing means between said second housing part and said first housing part adjacent the upper end of said second housing part vertically spaced above said first bearing means; and vent means for venting the bottom of said second housing part to the atmosphere to prevent the formation of air bubbles adjacent said gear means, said vent means being defined at least in part by the opening through the central portion of said elongated and hollow steering shaft.
 5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein said steering shaft has on the lower end thereof a pair of laterally extending arms secured to said second housing part on laterally opposite sides of said propeller drive shaft.
 6. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein said arms diverge downwardly away from said lower end of said steering shaft to straddle said propeller drive shaft.
 7. The improvement according to claim 5, including means for plugging the lower end of the opening in said hollow steering shaft; and including means for defining a second opening through at least one of said arms and connected in circuit with said opening in said steering shaft, said second opening opening outwardly of said arm adjacent the free end thereof.
 8. The improvement according to claim 5, wherein said second housing part comprises an upper part and a lower part secured by fasteners, the free ends of said arms being clamped between said upper and lower parts by said fasteners so that a driven rotation of said steering shaft will effect a rotation of said second housing part.
 9. The improvement according to claim 4, including means defining a passageway in said first and second housing parts separate from said vent means for permitting a filling of at least said second housing part with a lubricant. 